The ALTS is a federal and governmental state panel of experts, whose task consists in the exchange of scientific experiences and opinions concerning the ALTS tasks listed below as well as the harmonising of the evaluation of official control results.

Structure

The inner circle of members consists of the representatives of the official laboratories of the federal states and of the German Armed Forces, who are responsible for the control of foodstuffs of animal origin, food hygiene and microbiology. The wider circle includes the authorised private witness-sample-checking experts as well as representatives of the national research centres assigned to this task area and chairs of universities. A representative of the official food control laboratories of the federal states has the chair. Management is assumed by the BVL.

Fields of responsibility

The topics of composition of food of animal origin, food hygiene and microbiology, viruses in foodstuffs and veterinary drugs in accordance with NRCP all fall under the competence of the ALTS, as do parasitological, histological and immunological foodstuff analysis.

The following task forces currently are under the umbrella of the ALTS:

• TF "Hygiene and Microbiology"
• TF "Immunology, serology, molecular biology"
• TF "Meat and meat products including specific labelling issues"
• TF "Fish and fish products including specific labelling issues"
• TF "Milk and milk products including specific labelling issues"

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